By Bryan Alvarez |
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| @bryanalvarez

We're looking for reports on yesterday and today's show in Abu Dhabi from WWE with the A team tour with Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, The Shield, Big Show, Ryback, Booker T (as referee), Sami Zayn and others at
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Saturday also has the final of the three WWE shows in Abu Dhabi as well as a house show in Providence, RI (C.M. Punk vs. Curtis Axel & Paul Heyman handicap match; Alberto Del Rio vs. Great Khali for world title).

New Japan Pro Wrestling presents the King of Pro Wrestling on iPPV at 3 a.m. Monday morning Eastern time and Midnight Pacific time at www.ustream.tv/channel/njpw1972 The show airs live from Sumo Hall in Tokyo and is designed to be the company's No. 3 show of the year behind Wrestle Kingdom and the G-1 Finals.

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Katsuyori Shibata (rematch of one of this year's best matches)

Yuji Nagata vs. Kazushi Sakuraba

Tetsuya Naito vs. Yujiro Takahashi for the Never championship and the Tokyo Dome main event slot

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Naomichi Marufuji for the IC title

Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP heavyweight title (rematch of many of the best matches of the past two years)

Raw will be live from the Savvis Center in St. Louis on Monday.

Smackdown and Main Event are taped Tuesday night in Kansas City.

A few notes regarding the Observer. This is a good period to subscribe because over the next several weeks the back issues will include the History of New Japan Pro Wrestling, the first Hall of Fame issue, plus the 2013 Hall of Fame issue will be out in a few weeks.

We've also got a double issue of the Observer that will be on the site today with the lead story talking about the return of John Cena and the questions it asks. We'll look at the current plans for Hell in a Cell, the injury to A.J. Lee, all the major questions that came up after Battleground, the fan reaction level, why so much went wrong and what questions it brings up about the current creative process.

We also look at gambling on WWE matches, an update on Rob Van Dam and Ricardo Rodriguez, along with full coverage of Battleground with match-by-match notes, star ratings and poll coverage from the show.

We also look at what happened with Dr. Wagner Jr., as well as what he said in public about AAA and what AAA said back.

We've got a note on the announced retirement of a Hall of Famer.

We've also got WWE and UFC touting their success and what does each company point to. We also note what former WWF star is gaining power behind the scenes, WWE being honored by the SLI, More on John Cena being sued, several new WWE signings, Darren Young talks his situation an why he did what he did, DVD ideas WWE is considering, Dusty Rhodes talks Hall of Fame, A look back at the end of Crockett Promotions, Details on new major WWE hire, two new WWE DVDs NXT, plus notes from all the house shows this past week.

We also have the follow up on last week's story on the wrestlers who have had the most four star matches. This week we look at the numbers when you figure in Japanese big show matches. Who were the top in-ring performers over the past 26 years and where do the stars of the current generation stand.

We also have a major feature this week on the life and times of Oregon wrestling legend Dutch Savage. We look at the career and life of the face of wrestling in that part of the country for much of the 70s, what he represented, his life before and after wrestling, how he came to Oregon, how he became a partner in the promotion and why he suddenly disappeared. It's a major feature on the world of pro wrestling in the Pacific Northwest and its unique characters, from Lonnie Mayne to Tony Borne to Buddy Rose to Bull Ramos to Roddy Piper to Jesse Ventura.

We look at one of the longest running television shows in U.S. history, why it ended, the make up of the crowds. We look at his most famous angles, the babyface turn, the coal miner's glove match, the documentary PBS made on him, practical jokes, his runs outside the Northwest including main event title challenges in San Francisco and Los Angeles, how he got into wrestling, Big Luke Brown of The Kentuckians.

The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

The Observer is now in its 31st year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential names in the pro wrestling and MMA industry, from bookers to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest names on camera and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and more than 30 countries subscribe. Many have subscribed for 20 years or longer consecutively. They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world. Everywhere from Wall Street to the major offices to television networks in the U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in the business.

If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today. Just sent your Visa or Master Card order with your name, address, phone number, card number and expiration date to
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You can also order by paypal by sending to www.paypal.com and directing the funds to
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You can also subscribe via check, cash or money order, as well as credit card by mail, by sending to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.

We also have a look at the ratings of all the major shows as well as details of how every segment on Raw and Impact this past week did and what gained and lost viewers.

We also have results from all the major league arena events over the past week as well as a look at all the major television shows.

Also in this week's issue:

--Update on wrestling at Arena Mexico

--Tag team title top contender tournament

--Update on AAA's next big show

--Debut of the son of a major longtime star

--Notes on Dragon Gate's big show of the week

--Notes on Wrestle-1's big show of the week

--Changes in booking in Wrestle-1

--Jeff Jarrett comes to Japan

--Newcomer to All Japan

--NOAH's big show of the week and where the title picture is going

--What two major matches with KENTA against stars from other promotions are being set up

--A look at the New Japan business right now

--New Japan business plans for the future

--Behind the New Japan signing of Kota Ibushi

--What other promotion tried to sign him

--What is the unique nature of his contract

--More on the Okada vs. Tanahashi program

--New matches added to the next PPV show

--The next two iPPV dates for New Japan

--New Japan stars wrestle around the world

--First news on 2013 New Year's Eve show

--Two of the all-time biggest stars in Japan talking about a return

--Battle of the greatest junior heavyweights from four different eras

--Son of major pro wrestling star being pushed as potential Olympian

--Matt Hardy wedding

--Mil Mascaras movie

--World Triangle League tournament notes

--Update on Ted DiBiase Jr.

--Who nearly got the name Stone Cold

--NFL stars who were star wrestlers

--Notes on next major ROH show

--Notes on weekend ROH show

--Update on Hulk Hogan

--New TNA acquisition

--Austin Aries talks TNA

--Mickie James talks TNA

--Tons of new UFC fights

--Thoughts on this year's Super Bowl card

--Who did Jose Aldo want

--Behind the Ben Rothwell suspension and how it's strange

--Chael Sonnen talks angle with Wanderlei Silva

--Update on UFC lawsuit against the state of New York

--Lots of UFC injury updates

--Tons of new UFC matches

--New Spike MMA programming

--Bellator's last show and next show

--Bellator fighter out of retirement

--Lots of notes regarding weight cutting

--Boxing ratings

--WWE head-to-head with major MMA events

--Notes on the Glory debut on Spike

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to
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For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52 .

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..

To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

-- Want to send out best wishes to readers/listeners Kevin and Suzanne. Suzanne is having serious health issues and we're pulling for her to get through it. She particularly loves listening to Granny.

-- Also want to send a shout-out to Mark Watson, the REF OF THE NORTHWEST, who is retiring from the business as of this week. Mark was the referee in some of my favorite matches from around the Portland area in the late 90s and early 00s.

--It had been reported earlier this week that Christian would be returning from his concussion this weekend at the house shows. He is still advertised on he web site, but the story going around is he won't be there. We haven't heard anything one way or the other from WWE.

-- The Bob Holly Wrestling Observer Radio show has been moved to next week.

-- We will have a new After Dark Radio tonight with part II of our weird, wacky, famous or infamous crimes from your neck of the woods series. You can listen to part 1, which is a FREE download, here. All emails on this topic should be sent to
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with "After Dark" (two words) in the subject line. You can call in tonight at 425-482-1686 starting at midnight Pacific/3 AM Eastern. Emails and phone lines remain open to any topic outside of wrestling and mixed martial arts. The wrestling/MMA open lines show runs Monday afternoon on the site. You can also find out when to call by following me on Twitter @bryanalvarez, or if you don't have Twitter, you can get mobile alerts sent to your phone by texting FOLLOW BRYANALVAREZ (my name all one word) to 40404. Standard text message rates apply.

-- If I have to read or hear one more quote from Rousimar Palhares' manager about what a nice guy he is and how perplexed he is that he was cut from UFC, I will vomit. VOMIT.

-- It is being reportedthat the reason Stephanie McMahon has been cashing in so much WWE stock (over $8 million worth so far) is because she is in the process of buying a house. She's not buying an existing house, but rather having one built. I remember many years ago Matt Hardy bought a 10,000 square foot house, and either him or someone else, when writing about it, accidentally typed "100,000 square foot house". That's a big house. Based on how much Steph has cashed in, she might be looking to build a 100,000 square foot house.

-- Michael Bisping said his doctor told him that he 100% would be able to fight again, and he has been cleared to do light exercise.

-- No idea what to make of this new Japanese wrestling cartoon. If you're a fan of giant heaving anime breasts and shower molestation mixed in with pro-wrestling, this show is for you.

-- Latest from the Bellator PPV: Submission ace Terry Etim will return to the cage on November 2nd as the Liverpool native will make his Bellator debut against Patrick Cenoble. The lightweight affair will be featured on Spike TV leading up to Bellator’s highly anticipated Pay-Per-View, which is headlined by MMA icons Rampage Jackson and Tito Ortiz. “Rampage vs. Tito” will be held at Southern California’s Long Beach Arena on Saturday, November 2nd, with tickets on sale now. Tickets can be purchased on Bellator.com, Ticketmaster.com, as well as at The Long Beach Arena Box Office.

-- WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE UFC SHOW IN BRAZIL? Excellent 3.8% Good 21,5% Average 34,2% Fair 15.2% Poor 15.2% 37.3% of those responding didn't see the show

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF WEDNESDAY'S ULTIMATE FIGHTER TV SHOW? Excellent 54.1% Good 37.8% Average 4.1% Fair 0.0% Poor 4.1% 38.3% of those responding didn't see the show

-- Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, will present a live broadcast of Golden Boy Live! this Monday, October 14, at 9 p.m. ET, from BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, headlined by unbeaten junior middleweight Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo against New York City southpaw Jose Angel “Silver Boy” Rodriguez. In the co-main event, in a clash of unbeaten fighters, 2012 U.S. Olympian Errol Spence Jr. will be back in the ring as he faces off against fellow undefeated welterweight Emmanuel "Ice Cold" Lartey.

-- With a stellar lineup already in place for the promotion's first-ever trip to Florida, World Series of Fighting executives have added a 10th and final bout to the company's upcoming event. "World Series of Fighting 6: Burkman vs. Carl" now hosts a newly announced featherweight matchup between 13-year professional Pablo "The Hurricane" Alfonso (8-5) and former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Miguel Torres (40-6) on the evening's preliminary lineup. Featuring the first title fight in World Series of Fighting history with Josh "The People's Warrior" Burkman (26-9) vs. Steve Carl (20-3) for the promotion's inaugural welterweight belt, World Series of Fighting 6 takes place Oct. 26 at BankUnited Center in Coral Gable, Fla. The live, two-hour NBCSN telecast of the evening's main card begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Preliminary bouts stream live on World Series of Fighting's official website, WSOF.com, beginning at 6 p.m. ET, and venue doors open at 5 p.m. ET. Tickets for the event, which start at just $29, are currently on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000.

-- Paul writes: Virgil is once again at New York Comic Con. Same Ted Dibiase poster, Million Dollar Belt and everything. Seems to be more popular than usual this year. If any subscribers are going this year, his booth is almost immediately under the "Aisle 1100" sign.

-- Training Seminar with UK Legend and Mother of NXT Women's Champion Page in Chicago October 18. Wrestlers, managers and other performers on the independents have a very unique training opportunity available to them on Friday, October 18. The School of Everything Else offers training focusing on "Everything Else," going beyond the moves and physical training of the ring. The next session is the first of the Masters' Classes, the guest facilitator series of The SEE. Masters' Class: Character will take place 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at the Berwyn Eagles Club in Berwyn, IL, home of AAW Pro and SHIMMER Women Athletes. This session will take place before AAW's Hostile Intentions event kicking off the SHIMMER weekend of tapings for DVD Volumes 58-61. The guest facilitator is former SHIMMER Champion "Sweet" Saraya Knight. Saraya is the matriarch of the UK's famed Knight family which includes current NXT Women's Champion Paige. The Knight's reputation of promotion and training through WAW and Bellatrix speaks for itself. Saraya has proven herself a character who is in complete control of the audience from the moment she steps through the curtain. This training session will focus on interviews, presence and psychology of becoming your character in every aspect of performance. This is a one of a kind opportunity in the United States to train with one of the most respected veterans of the United Kingdom. Cost of the session is $30. For more information or to sign up: Facebook.com/SEEWrestling

-- From the promoter: Roan "Jucao" Carneiro is one of the most well-respected trainers in Atlanta and one of the most accomplished fighters. The five-time UFC vet has fought a list of who's who including Anderson Silva. But the head of ATT Atlanta has had one thing missing since 2008 - a fight in his hometown of Atlanta. On Friday, Oct 18 - Jucao will headline the NFC #60 fight card at Wild Bill's!

-- On Friday night April 4th and on the afternoon of April 5th, ROH will invade the John Alario Event Center, located at 2000 Segnett Blvd. in Westwego, LA! The anticipation has been building since we first made the announcement several weeks ago and now we can announce that tickets will go on-sale next week! Tickets will are on-sale exclusively now Ticketmaster.com

-- Universal Championship Wrestling makes its anticipated return to Owensboro, KY on Saturday, November 7 at 7:00 PM at the Next Level Indoor Sports Facility when they present UCW Recoil. This event will feature former WWE/WCW/NWO/TNA, 3 Time World Heavyweight Champion and national television star "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner, former WWE star "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters, former WWE star and current NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion "Ironman" Rob Conway, USWA Legend "Superstar" Bill Dundee, and a special meet and greet with wrestling's original diva, WWE Hall of Famer Sunny. VIP 1st and 2nd row ticket prices are $20 in advance and include early entry into the event for a private meet and greet as well as an assigned seat in the 1st or 2nd row. General admission tickets, row 3 and back, are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Advanced tickets are available at The Next Level Indoor Sports Facility in Owensboro, Pizza Kings in Beaver Dam, and may be purchased online at the event website www.ucwrecoil.com.

-- Upstate Pro Wrestling will make its debut at Braun's Bar & Grill in Akron, New York Saturday, October 26th for "Monster's Brawl". On the heels of the Upstate 8 Indytational where a new UPW Heavyweight Champion was crowned and UPW's huge summer show Headlocks & Homeruns 2, this card is shaping up to biggest show of the year and possibly the biggest show in UPW history. Unfortunately for UPW fans Goldust who was scheduled to appear will no longer be appearing due to his recent contract signing with WWE. Despite the loss, this show will feature the top stars of UPW as well as huge legends and superstars in the business.

-- Platinum Championship Wrestling's biggest show of the year will take place Saturday, October 19th The Main Event in Porterdale, Georgia! Bell time is 6 p.m.! 2001 Main Street Porterdale, Georgia 30070 (20 East, Go right off of Exit 88, 3.5 miles go left at the four-way stop, building is on the left side of the street)